Round-bale cotton-press



J. A. TAFT.

ROUND BALE COTTON PRESS. APPLICATION rLEb JUNE 26.'1917.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

AN N I J. A. TAFT.

ROUND BALE COTTON PRESS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 191

' Patented Mar. 9,1920.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2.

J. A. TAFT.

UND BALE COTTONPRESS.

Patented Mar. 9,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- ;OF E

r JON'A. muar, OF SAN Anmovo, rrnxhs; n renca-mo RAGAv- BAIQ 'CMI ANY oF SAN mromo; rnxzaaeon onmon OF TEXAS- To all' wlwg'n 'it may conccrn l I Be lt knownthat I, JOHN A. TAFT, a ctrzen of the United States', and a resident of the city of San Antonio, in the County of new and useful. Improvements in- Round- Bale Cotton-Presses, of which' the following isa specification.

This invention relates broadly to presses and more particularly to details of a press folmaking round cotton bales.

-Theprincipal object ofthe present inventen`- is to provide a suitable core and related;

devices;comprising elements of a press for proclucing round cotton bales and wher'en i the; core conprises a tapering steel member.

- Another object of the present nvention isto provide a round balecotton press with suitable devicesadjacent the ends of the core to properly form the endsofthe hale, and

I which devices nore particularly comprise traveling plate's Operating conjointly` with rotating disks.

stillfurther objectof the present invention is the provisior of suitable inechanisn `"for reuovi'ne the core" Jin from t-finished bale before the bale is taken from thevpress,

and such "nechanisn conprises more par-" ticularly a hydraulio i an nounted in such manner as to permt the core pin being alned opposite'to renoval openings in the' 'machine franie and to be noved'endwiseby the said ram whereby, the taper on the core pin extending through the bale permits the ran to move the pin endwise and thereby release the said pin fronr the coinpressed' cotton. i r i u Other and further obj'ects of the present' .invention will in part` be obvious and will in part .be pointed'out hereinafter by reference' to the accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are designated :by like characters the circnlar end plate and the slidable end plate.

Fig. 3 is a detail end View showing the end of the core pin in position against the i 'hearing rollers:

Fiat& is a view; of the core pin;

Fg. 5 illustratesthe core pi Bexar, State of Texas have invented certain n within the finished hale and showing the relation ;of the ROUND-BALE COTTON-PRESSL Specificaton of Letters'ratentl 'I Pteltehafl 9,19202 Application filed. June 26, 1917. Serial No; 1%?,131.

core pin and the end plates before the core pin is removed. v V

, Fg. 6 s a sectonal vew through a circular bale after-the core pm" has been renoved and illustrates the relative densit'ies of' po' tions oftheba-le.

Heretofore n the art of mounted tapering sleeves which tapered toward the -postionwhich would corres'pond to the center ofthe completed hale. This shaft and' these sleeves, constituted acore upon which; the cylinder cotton bale Was formed. The baling operation takes place under considerable pressureso that the Got- I i i making. round cotton bales t has been the general custoni 'to providea cylndrcal shaft on which were ton was 'very tight ly conpressed; around* these sleeves. lnfcrder .to remove thesleeves it was necessary to take' thebales from the' press mechanisn anclit frequently occurred that the bale was badly mutilatedinattemp'ting to removethesesleeves; .because of the extremely tight* grip that -the cotton it waslfound' that-jn-` the -najority .Ofcases usually sprug slightly out of alinement under the balingpressure. The consequence i of 'these effects was to quickly destroy the 'sleeves and also fto produce uneven baling' A further dhculty was also enaction. countered in, formingthe'ends of the bales. Vario us types of plateshave been tried gboth stationary and rotary. The rotatve plates are very difficult to remove from the core, or pressed so tghtly against the france work ol- ,the'press ;that the operatou of the naj chine 'was impaired andi made the removal of the bale froni between them difiicult; v

i I find' the ,foregoing difficultiesare obvia t-ed byproviding a core pin composed' of a single piece' of metal,` preferably steel; providedon each end-with suitable bearings,; i the pin being tapered substantially throughout the portion upon which the bale' is adapted to be for'ned.- Preerbly this core pin is hardenedand ground so" that: it pre-.

sents asmooth `tapering surface ,The disks' which loosely' fit .over theends of the core; pin,-and.are supported on the pin. against the outward thrust of the baleQby* plates which are! connected to and have arectilinear movement with the pressure rolls so a that in effect the ;circu-lar`plates float be tweenthe hale being. forned and the rectilinear moving supporting plates( Then, ai'ter` 'tions to cylinder bale cotton.

the hale is formed and bound; it is slightly lowered to permt the core pin todropaway from its supporting bearings and assumes a position opposte suitable egector openngs, which are alned opposte the plnnger'of the hydraulic ram adapted to press upon the end of the core pin adjacent the smallest tapering portion and move the core pin end' wise a suflicient distance to pcrmit the taper thereon to release the' pres-sure of the compressed cotton upon the pin Whereby the core maybe entirely and easily removed. Upon renoval of the' pin, the compressed cotton' at the center of the 'hale being relieved from pressure expands to fill the space previously occupied by the pin and forms a loose center, in the bale which allows the air to circulate through and dry out the cotton when baled damp, and also assures the bale against a hard center, which has,

heretofo'e 'been one of the principal objec- The cotton hale then assumes a relation wherein the uniforn density at .which it was Originally formed around the' pin is changed to a inini-` mum densityat the center of thebale and a -pin 'during the fornation of the bale.

maximum density adjacent the outer portions of the hale so, that there no hard and twisted mass of cotton in'the center of the hale when the hale is opened.

` Referring more particularly to the d 'awings,- the press comprises a suitable head `franel Secured to andcarried by the vertical guides The head frame is preferably provided With anti-friction bearings 4 such' as shown and claimed in my 'copending application Serial No."139,597, filed Dec. 29,

1916. These bearings are so arranged that -they engage ournals on the tapered core 5 ber 10 of a'hydraulic press and air cushion device.

`bevei 'ears 12 and' transnittin DOWGY to 7 ::a

cof

rotate the pressure rollers through spur' gears 14:.

For. overcoming the ditculty ieretofore experienced in forming the ende of the' b ale in a smooth condition,' I have' provided a' pair of plates 1 5 one adjacent eachend of the shdmgcross head, by which they are carried and havingslots 16 formed therein The cross headalso carries a drive 'ngshaft 11 driven through the mediumet for receiving the 'core pin 5 andpermitting movement relative thereto Mounted on the core pn within the guide plates lare fioatng head disks 17 having a diameter equal to or slightiy greater than the diameter of the finished bale. it will be apparent that since the cotton hatting is wound on the core pin within the limits defined by the fioating disks, that the fibers adjacent the'disks are kept from entering the slots in the plate 15 and interfering with the easy release of the bale froni the press. The' disks also protect the cotton againstbreaking and matting, as all wear and thrustis taken up between the disks and the -plates 15.

The core pin 5 is preferably formed of hardened steel and is provided With a smooth surface to prevent the cotton batting from sticking thereto. The taper is preferably continuous throughout the'greater length ot' the core pin,- the opposite ends being slightly reduced'indiameter and cylin- I crical 'inoutline to form journals coperating with the' anti-frictionbearings 4. v

For pernitting the 'ready insertion and withdrawal of the core pin, the head frame may be provided with 'elongatedopenings 18, the lower'portions of which are of slightly greater diameter than the upper portions. In' normal working operation the core pin is held in its uppermost 'position ward pressure exerted by the pressure rolls.

i Ae the bale increases in diameter the rolls gradually descend against the' action or" the ;against the antifriction bearings by the upentrapped air in the'piston 10 so that a gradu- I ally increasing pressure is eXerted on the bale. After the tormation of the hale the ressure within the'piston may be relieved in i any suitable manner, as by permitting the escape of the liquid contained in the press inehanisnyso that the core pin and thebale i are permitted to drop a slight distance in order to 'bring the pin in to alinement with r the lower, enlarged portion of the openings in the head france; i ln this 'position the core pin may `be forced outwardly by means' of a suitably constructed ejecting device 19.

In the present embodiment I have illus trated this device as comprising a hydraulic or other fluid prcssure cylinder 20 carrying the piston- 21 'adapted to be reciprocated in either direction by means or" fluid pressure which may' beadinitted or exhausted' to or froni either end of the cylinder means of the valve 29 and the connected piping. i The' ejectin'g niechanism F ri'gidly Secured to the head frame 'of the press mechanisn by means of a bracket' is preferably arin 24; and se supported that the piston 21 thereo-f alines at all times with the center of the enlarged portion of the openings in the head frane.` It will now be apparent that as soon as the core' is 'dropped to its lower position that the 'pin will be in alinement With. the pistonby means of which it maybe forced outwa'dly from` the bale.

Sincethe 'bale for-med by this pressis subjected toa consderable degree of pressure,

'the renoval of the' is ;accompanied by a'gradual expanson of the cotton fibers, thereby completely` closing the' space, for

nerly occupied by the core and leaving a loosecenter through which the air. may cir-' culate.` Thus, the completed bale is slightly less 'compact'at the central portion than at the periphery, so that 'upon opening the bale for use,the cotton fibers at the 'center' of the core are found toube in perfect unmatted condition. v

Where the core pin is constructed as shown in the patent to S. H. Dunlap, 1,087,002, of February 10, 1,914, for' example intwo or more partshavng opposite dii-.

rected tapered surfaces the removal of the v Same after the bale is takenfrom the mai same may be removed whle the bale s supi chine saves delay and'often times the center part of the bale is draWnout With the sleeve destroying the shape of the bale; By i using a single' core pin as herein shown, the

ported by the press ,With no damage to the bale. Thisfeature has been found to be` highly 'desirous in the production of coininercially salable bales of cotton, for if the a ,center of. the bale is in' a hard matted con.-

dition it. destroys the fiber. I Since, the 'results which it is desired to obtain by this construction may beobtain'ed conbnaton, acore,` a shdmg cross head by mechanisms differing. slightly in structure, it is intended that the drawings shall only be considered as representative of a preferred embodiment of'iny intention.,

-What I claim is 1. In a cotton bale' forming machine, in

below said core, pressure rolls carried thereby for wrapping cotton around the core,

for wrapping cottonaround the core, disks car'ed. by the. core adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and guide plates on the cross i r head coperatng With said disks, said guide plates being slotted to receve the'core pn.

A core pin for cotton baling presses, comprising a hardened steel pin adapted to extend .entirely through the bale, having journals formed on its opposite ends, uni t'ornly tapered throughout the greater por: tionof its length, With porticns beyond ,the

tapered portion engageable to preven'tlongitudinal movement of the pin, said pin having its hat receiving surface. pohshed to prevent .adhesion of the cotton fibers. thereto.

, 4. In av cottonjbal g n achine, in com binaton, a tapered core pin, bearingjmeans for supporting saidj core pin, means to 'prevent endwise movement 'of the -core pin When in conta'ctrwith said tearing means, means :tor `Wrapping cotton aroundsaid pin,

one end of ,the pin' andnormally out of 'alinement therewith 'for pusnng the same 'from afinished bale.

5. In a cotton bale forming machine, in conbnation, head 'rame, bearings mounted/in said head rame, a core pin cooperatng with said bearings, shoulders on the ende of said core pin to prevent end wise movement of the core pin While incontact With said bearin gs, means for Wrapping cotton around. said core pin, and* means carried by the head frame adjacent one end of the core pin and normally out of alinement thereWith for pushing thesame fronr -a finished b`ale;' a T and'means carried by the machine adjacent 6. In a'cotton bale forming machine, n V

combination, a head frame having'elongated openings formed theren, said' open'ngs being of different. diameter-s throughout' dif- ''erent portions of' their length, bearngs` carried bythe head frame, a core .pin

adapted to; be inserted through said openi ings to coperate With the. bearings, means forwrapping cotton around said core pin, r

means for lowering the pin to bring the same into` alm'ement wth the larger diameter of sad open ngs, and means for forcingthe pin from. the bale of cotton formed thereon; e i p i 7., In a cotton' bale forming machine, i-n

combination, ahead 'fi-ame, a core' pin jou1 naled in said frame, overhead' bearngs adaptedvto support the core pin during baling, anej ecting device, mounted on thel rame i below the normal axis of thepin and ner mally out of contact With said pin forpushing the same outxvardly 'fromya finished hale. S; Ina cottonbale forming machine, 'in coinbination, a tapering core pin, means for Wrapping` cotton around saidpimfloating disks loosely carried by the pin ad- I jacent 'the opposite ends thereof, and an ejecting device mounted on the machine for forcing thecore pin outwardly through said disks and from a finished bal v r e 7 9.7In a cotton bal e forming machine, in con'bnation, a head frame, a core pin journaled in said 'frame, bearings to support the, core pm durng baling, means or wrappng cottonaround said pin, fioating disks loosely carrled by the .pn &ClJtCEIlt the opposte ends thereot, meansto prevent endxvise movementof the core pin during the 'wrappjng specified, *and an meeting devce mounted on the head iframe .for forcing the core e pin outwardl'y` :from .a finlshed bale.

-10. Ina cottonbalng, machine, in combi-` nation, a core pin, means: for ,support ng fsaicl core pin during baling, compressing acljacent one end of the pin and normally onto of engagcment therewth for `torcing "the same from' a finished hale, and means for the pin to the core removing' means.`

1.1; In a 'cotton hal 'forming machine, in

eombination, a head frame, a taperecl core pin 'j'onrnalecl in said treme, overheacl, bearings for supporting the core pin during baling, means to prevent enclwise movement of the core pin While in contact With said bearings, an ejecting i clevice mountecl on the t'rane below the aXis oi? the core pin for pnshing the same outwarclly therefrom, and means for lowering the hale to bring the core into valinement With said ejecting device. 7

12. In a cotton hale formng machine,in combinationga head frame, a taperecl core pin journalecl in saichframe, a fluid pressnreclevice Secured to saicl iframe below the normal axis of the core' pin for orcing the I same outvvardly therefrom, means to pre:

vent' enclvvise movement of the core 'pin When n normal position, and` means for loivering the hale to bring the'core into vent enclwise movement of the core pin While in engagement With said bearings, means i'or Wrapping cotton around said p1n,means carrecl by' the machine achacent one end ot the pin and normally out of alinem'ent jtherewith for ejecting the same 'ironia finished hale, and means for lowering the vrapping means to bring the core into alinement with' said ejectng means. e

14-. In baling machine the oombination ot a core 'for receving the bale, compressing means operable to compress the bat upon the core, retaining means associatecl 'with the ore ;tor holding it to the operation ofthe compressing means, said compressing means V r and retaming means being mountetl for relaand guide members operably associated With ?the (llSkS 'and movable relative thereto and effective to maintain the clisks in' operative i position during the forming or" the hale toward ancl from-the compressing nechanism to accommoclate increase in size'of the hale, chsks assocatecl With the core to shape the enrls of the hale and movable With'said core 'to and 'from` the compressing mecha-" nism guide members operably assocatecl With the chsksin such manner as to permt movement thereof, sacl guide members being effective to maintainthe clisks in operat've position at all-positions of the core.

1 In a baling press, the combination of compressing mechanism, a movable core associated Witll the compressing mechanism and aclapted'to receive the bat therefrom,

means supported on the core for forming the encls of the bale, guide members i'or guidng the core toward and fromthe com pressing mechanism retaining members aclaptecl to hold the core to the operation of the compressing mechanism, said retaining members including portions effective to hold .the core 'against lateral movement and enclwise movement and portons aclaptecl to means for accomplishing relative movement of the compressing mechanism ancl retaining' mem ers Wiere. o ')0 i"on ,ie o re, g b l by t s ti tl o selectively in either of said portions ot' the retamlng members.

17. In abaling press, the combination ,of

amovable core for receiving the-bale,. compressmg mechansm for supportng the hale,

-retaining members for holding the core to" the operation of the compressng mechai nisin and for lnntmg the lateral movement of the core, said retaining members having portions effective to` limit'the enclwise movement of the core and portions effective to permit enclWisemovementthereof, the core 'being movable into association With said portions selectvely.

18. In a 'baling machine, the combination of a movable core for receiving the balc, compressing mechanism for applying the batto the core, retaining means for holding the core in operable association with the compressing mechanism, disks movable With the 'core and, eftective to shape the encls oi" the hale, core removing means eifective upon the core in a precleterminecl position to remove the same :from the hale, and guide members associated With the clisks and the compressing mechanism, and efiective to maintain the hale in proper association With the compressing mechanism indepenclently i of endwisemovement of the core.

19. In a machine of the class described;

the combination With compressing meehansn of a core movable relatve thereto and adapted to receive the bat therefrom, re-

taining means for guicling tl ie'core,"guid` members -for guiding the hale independently of the core, and core removing means operable to move the core relative to the bale. V V

20. In 'a baling machine, the combination of a mova'ble core ,for receiving the bale,

compressing mechansm for applying the bat to' the core, retanng means for hold ing the core lIl operable associat on With proper association With the compressng mechansn ndependently of endwse movei ment of the core.

21. In a baling machine, the combinati on of a' movable core for recevng the hale,

compressing mechansm fort. applying the bat to the core, retanng means for holding the core in operable association With the compressing mechanisni, disks movable With the core 'and effective to shape the ende of the hale, and gudemembers associated With 'the core and the compi'essing mechanism,

and efi'ective to maintain thebale in proper association With the compressng mechansm mdependently of endwse movement of the core.

JOHN A. TAFT. 

